X-ray apparatus.



S. T. HUTTON.

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 19!].

Patented May 4, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I fizz/enfor- Jamlwl Zidfom s. T. HUTTON.

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7| 19H.

Patented May 4, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

jig. 3

S. T. HUTTON.

X-RAY APPARATUS.

APPLICAT'ON FILED MAR. 1. 1911.

m mm f1 w m g P 5 M UNITED STATES PATENT omen.

SAMUEL T. BUTTON, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, ASSIGNOR To sonmnnL-wn'smmz X-RAY ooIL COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A coBPomTIoN or ILLINOIS.

x-naY APPARATUS.

. -Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915. 7

Application filed Iarch 7, 1911. Serial No. 812,792.

To all whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. Hn'rron, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyqf Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in X-Ray Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the followin is a full, clear, and exact description thereo reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates 'to improvements in X-ray systems, and particularly to cer-. tain novel features of construction ina rec? tifying switch adapted for use in such-a coil, the primary of which receives the low tension alternating current while the secondary is in circuit with the X ray tube; and a rotary rectifying switch in said secondary circuit driven in 'synchronism with I said motor generator orrotary converter are used, said switch acting to'fdirect them all through the X-ray tube in the same direction. j The invention consists of thematters hereinafter described and -more. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

, In the drawings-Figure 1 is a "diagrammatic view showing an X-ray'system provided with the novel'featu'res of my invention. Fig. .2is a transverse section on an enlarged scale through the central axis of the rotary member ofthe rectifying switch,

the plane of the section being indicated by the, line 2.2 in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a .front elevation of an X-ray cabinet with the front wall removed showing the motor generator and the rectifying switch. F1g.'4 1s a vertical section through Fig. 3 on the line 44 thereof. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section through the rectifying switch showing. it in amodified form. Fig. 6is a view representinga section throu h Fig. 5 on the line 6-6 thereof. Fig. g is a partialcross-section through the rectifying switch showing another modification of the device. Fig. 8 1 s a section through Fig.7 on the line 8+8 thereof. Fig. 9- is a view representing a cross-section'through the switch similar to that of Fig. 4, showing a change of form of themodification shown in Figs. 5and 6. I Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and

particularly to the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 1; '10, 10 indicate the mains of a direct current circuit which supplies current to operate a motor generator 11. 12 indicates a switch inserted in. the direct current circuit. 13, 13 indicate low tension mains lead'ing from the alternating side of 'thepiotorgenerator 11, said mains connecting with 'the'primary winding 14 of a transformer l i which is preferably of the open magnetic circuit type, or what is familiarly- 'known as an induction. coil. 14 indicates the secondary winding which isconnected with'the high tension mains 15, 15 leading to a rectlfying switch 16. 18, 19 indicate mains leading to an X-ray tube 17 and adapted to supply the same with current which has been rectified by the switch 16.

' Allyof the parts abovereferred to, except the X-ray..tube are mounted in theusual cabinet A, (see Fig 3) the rectifying switch being arranged adjacent to the motor gen: erator with the rotary member of the rectifying switch preferably mounted on the shaft of said motor generator-so as to insure the said rotary member turning in synchronism with the motor enerator. Referring now to the recti ying switch, 20 indicates an extension of the motor enerator shaft which has bearing in a stan ard 21 supported on a base 21 which rests on the floor A of the cabinet. I

22 indicates the rotary member of the reg-1% tifying switch, the same being rigidly se cured to said extension 20 of the motor generator shaft. The rotary member 22 comprises a flat disk 22 of a large diameter provided with a wide annular band or rim PI'0jeCl3ln to h side I I .said disk. 0 he Pl ne of aid rotary member-"1s preferably made of wood, and its peripher that 18 to say the band 22", is wound wit cord or other strong flexible material, (non- Y conductlng) so as to strengthen it against the centrl ugal straindue to its rapid whirlmg motion.

: V 23, 23, 24, 24, indicate metallic conducting rods which extend transversely through the band or rim 22 of the rotary member at right angles to the plane of the disk 22 and which are arranged in pairs located diamet- V rically opposite each other;

frames 27, 28, located on opposite sides of the rotary member and comprising uprights 27, 27 28 28? and cross members 29, 29.- The two are supporting framesy27, 28 are connected togetherat the top by cross members 30, 30 and each frame is rigidly connected to a base-piece 31 which is secured to the main base 21 resting on the floor of the cabinet A.

32, 33, 34, 35 indicate the conducting arcs on the' frame 27 and 32, 33 ,34 35 indicate the conducting arcs on the frame 28, said conducting arcs in the order named being arranged one opposite to the other in a horizontal direction.

The high tension main 15 (see Fig. 1) is connected to a cross wire 36 which electrically connects the two conducting arcs 32 33, while the main 15 is connected to a cross wire 37 which electrically connects the two conducting arcs 34 35". Thus two of the conducting arcs on the frame 27 are connected to one side of the secondary circuit while the other two are connected to the other side of said circuit.

The'main 18 leading to one terminal of the X-ray tube is connected to a cross-wire 18? which electrically connects the conducting arms 33, 34, while the othermain 19 is connected to a cross wire 19 which electrically connects theconducting arcs 32 and 35.-

Thus two of'the conducting arcs on the frame 27 are connected with one terminal of the X-ray tube and the other two are connected w1th the other terminal of said tube.

The side frame members 27, 28 are spaced apart with reference to the length of the rods 23, 24 carried by the rotative switch member so that the ends of saidrods will pass in close proximity to the conducting arcs carried by said frame member but without makin contact therewith, it being necessary for t e current to jump small air gaps in passin from one of said conducting arcs on one si e, through the rods 23 or24 to the'conducting arc in horizontal alinement with it on the other side of the rotative switch member. The" parts of the switchare constructed and arranged relatively to the shaft of the motor generator so that the angular distance separating the conducting arcs of either set, in this. case 90, which represents the angular movement of the rotative switch member when the conducting devices carried thereby move from one conducting arc to the next adjacent, corresponds to 180 electrical degrees of the electric current. The sign of the alternating current passing throughthe mains 15, 15 thus changes at the instant of time when the rods 23 or 24 in the rotation of the rotative member of the switch, pass points midway between any two pairs of the op positely disposed conducting arcs. The arcs are of comparatively small angular extent so that only the tops of the alternating waves are taken up, the current being impressed upon the X-ray tube in a series of rapidly succeeding short, sharp impulses, all in the same direction. I

The operation of the rectifying switch is as. follows: Consider the rotative member of the. switch in the position indicated in Fig. 1 with the rods 23 in alinement with the conducting arcs 32 32,the rods 24 in alinement with the conducting arcs 34, 34,and the rotative switch member rotating in the direction of the arrow :In the position indicated and'supposing current of the positive sign passing through the main 15 and current of the negative sign passing through the main 15, the circuit is as follows: from the wire 15 to the cross wire 36, thence to the conducting arc 32 and through the rods 23 to the conducting are 32, thence to the cross -wire 19 and through the main 19 to one terminal of the X-ray tube. From the other terminal of the X-ray' tube the current passes from thewire 18 to the cross wire 18, thence to the conducting are 34 and through the rods 24 to the cmducting arc 34, thence to the cross wire 37 and to the main 15: When in the movement of the rotative switch the rods 23 and 24 come respectively into alinement with the conducting arcs 33 33 and the conducting arcs 35*, 35, the sign of the current passing through the main 15 has become negative and that passing through the main 15 has become positive. 7 We now have the positive current of the main 15 passing to the cross wire 37, thence through the conductin arc'35 to the conducting are 35 by way 0 the rods 24 which are now in alinement with said conducting arcs, thence to 'the cross wire 19 and so to the main 19 leading to the one terminal of the X-ray tube. The other terminal of the X-ray tube is then connected by the main 18 with the cross wire 18,- and thence by the conducting are 33, the rods 23 and the conducting are 33 with'the cross wire 36 and the main 15. The rods 23 next .come into' alinement with the conducting arcs 34%, 34 while the rods 24 are in alinement with the conducting arcs 32, 32, the position of said rods being just reversed from that shown in Fig. 1. We now have the main 15 connected with the main 19 by means of the rods 24 in the same way as in the first instance described, it was connected by the rods 23, whereas the rods 23 now connect the main 15 with the main 1'8. The rods '23 next come to position in alinement with conductin arcs 35 and 35 While the rods 24 are in a inement with the conducting arcs 34 and 34. The rods 2-1 thus connect the main 15 with the main 18 while the rods 23 connect the main 15* with. the main 19. The connections of the mains 15 and 15 are thus shifted with each alternation of the current so'as to always direct the current in the same direction through the X-ray' tube mains 19 and 18.

The conducting arcs are in the form of curved angle bars B, as shown in Fig. 2 having a flange 3 curved into the form of an arc, the center of which coincides with the central axis of the rotative member of the switch, so that in the rotation of the said rotative member, the ends of the rods 23 travel in a path opposite the curved edge of said flange.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified construction of the switch which possesses several advantages making its use in many cases preferable. In. said figures, C indicates the rotative switch member comprising the flat disk sand the flange or rim'C" which are of the form heretofore described. To the opposite edges of said rim C are secured oppositelylocated plates D, each having an upright flange d engaged against the vertical edge of the rim C of the rotative switch member and an inclined flange d Said spaced from said first-named flange.

inclined flange is serrated at its lower edge to proivde a plurality of closely spaced teeth 01 which have theirpoints arranged in the arc of a circle the center of which coincides with the central axis of the rotative switch member.

electrically and mechanically connected by means of rods E, E. Two pairs of these plates are secured to the rotative switch member, one pair being diametricallyopposite the other pair.

F indicates the conducting arcs. These as before, are in the form of arc-shaped angle bars, but the arc-shaped flange i2 is in thiscase longer and projects away rom. its support a sufiicient distance'to permit the serrated flanges d to project above said flange, as indicated in the drawings. By this construction thetceth 11 may operate very close to the conducting arcs, so as to greatly reduce the air gap without danger of direct contact being made between the parts on account of distortion or of a lack of nice adjustment, since any distortion un- The plates D, D arran ed as described in opposite horizontal re ation are derthe action of centrifugal. force will tend to increase the air gap. I also find that greatly superior results, that is to say, a

more eflicient, penetrating X-ray 1s pro'- air gap between the electricallyconnected conducting arcs leaving the gap only between conducting arcs not electrically connected and thus reduces sparking and the resultant loss of energy --by one half and greatly enhances the efliciency of the switch.

' InFigs. 7 and 8 I have shown another modification including toothed plates and in which the conducting arcs are replaced by pins G, G carrying at their ends small balls g, g. The rotative' switchmember is provided with oppositely located arcuate angle bars H having laterally extended flanges It which are serrated to provide teeth It. Said arcuate plates are connected by rods J extending through the rim of the ro tative switch member.

, One of the advantages of the rectifying switch described herein is that the high potential terminals of opposite sign, that is to say the conducting arcs and the conducting devices carried by the rotative switch member are widely separated so that there is no danger-of arcing between them. This is of especial importance in an X-ray system where current of excessive potential is used. This obviates the necessity for the use of high tension insulation and thereby not only materially decreases the cost but greatly increases thesafety of the switch.

I preferably use in connection with my improved apparatus a motor generator of that type familiarly known as a dynamotor in which the armature is provided with double winding, that is to say a separate complete winding for the direct current side and a separate complete winding for the alternating current side. This produces a difi'er'ent character of alternating current curve, one more closely approaching a true sine curve.

; While in illustrating and describing one embodiment of my invention, I have referred to certain details of construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereby exceptas two secondary mains and means for supply-- ing alternating current to said primary mains, a rectifying switch adapted for connecting sa d pr mary and secondary mains compris;

ing two sets of annularly arranged, station ary conducting arcs, each set being located in a plane laterally spaced from the plane of the other set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each other at angles of 90 and each arc of one set being located over against an associated arc of the other set,

one pair of adjacent arcs of one set being connected toone primary main and the remaining pair being connected to the other primary main, and one pair of adjacent arcs of the other set being connected to one secondary main and the remaining pair being connected to the other secondary main, the said pairs of the latter set each comprising arcs which areopposed to arcs of the other set connected to different primary mains, a rotative switch member located betweenthe planes of said sets of conducting arcs and carrying diametrically opposite conducting devices extending at an angle to said planes and adapted in the rotation thereof to be brought successively into alinement with said opposed conducting arcs, and means for continuously rotating said rotative switch member so that itrotates through-an angle of 90 for each change of sign of thealternating current.

2. A rectifying switch of the class described comprising two sets of annularly arranged, stationary conducting arcs, each set being located in a plane laterally spacedfrom the plane of the other set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each other at angles of 90 and each arc of one set being located over against an associated arc of the other set, means electrically connecting one pair of adjacent arcs of one set,*means electrically connecting the remaining pair of the arcs of said set, means electrically connecting one pair of'adjacent arcs of the other set and means electrically" connecting the remaining pair of the arcs of said set, the

4 pairs of the latter set each comprising arcs ranged conducting arcs, each set being cated in a plane laterally spaced from the whichare opposed. to arcs of the other set.

having no electrical connection, and a rotative switch member located between the planes of said sets of conducting arcs and carrying diametrically opposite conducting devices extending at right angles to said planes and adapted in the rotation thereof to be brought successively into alinement with wsaid opposed conducting arcs.

3. A rectifying switch of the class described comprising two sets of annularly arplane of theother set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each other'at angles of 90 and each arc of'one set being located over against an associated are of the other set, means electrically connecting one pair -of ad acent arcs of one set,--means electrically connecting the remaining pair of the arcs of said set, means electrically connect- 7 disk provided with a rim occupying the air gap between said opposed conducting arcs,

and said conducting devices carried by said rotative switch member including rods extending at an angle to the plane of said diskthrough said rim. 1

4. A rectifying switch of the class described comprising two sets of annularly arranged, stationary conducting arcs, each set being located in a plane laterally spaced from the plane of the other set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each other at angles of 90 and each arc of one set being located over against an associated arc of the other set, the arcs of each set being electrically connected in pairs of adjacent arcs, the pairs of connected arcs of one set each comprising arcs which are opposed to arcs of the otherset having no electrical connection, and a rotative swltch' member located between the planes of said sets ofconducting arcs and carryin conducting devices adapted in the rotation thereof to 'befbrought successively into alinement with said op-' posed conducting arcs, said conducting devices including arcuate members having ser-I 'rated projections adapted to pass in close relation with, but separated by an air gap from said conducting arcs. a 5. A rectifying switch adapted for con necting said primary and. secondary mains comprising two sets of annularly arranged,

stationary conducting arcs having arcnate flanges, each set being located in a plane laterally spacedfrom the plane of the other i set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each otherat angles of 90 and each arc of one set being located over against an associated arc of the other set, the arcs of eachset being carrying diametrically opposite conducting devices adapted in the rotation thereof .to

be brought successively into alinement with said opposed conducting arcs, said conducting devices including plates each-having a laterally extending, serrated, arcuate flange adapted to pass in close relation to, but radially without and separated by an air gap from the arcuate flanges of said conducting arcs.

6. A rectifying switch of the class described comprising two sets of annularly arranged stationary conducting members,

each set being located in a plane laterally spaced from the plane of the other 'setythe conducting members of each set being spaced from each other at angles'of 90 and each conducting member of one set being located over against an associated conducting member of the other set, means electrically connecting one pair of adjacent conducting members of one set, means electrically connecting the remaining pair of the conducting members of said set, means electrically connecting one pair of adjacent conducting vices adapted in the rotation thereof to be structed to impress the tops only of a the brought successively into alinement with said opposed stationary conducting members.

I 7. In an X-ray system, a motor generator set, means for supplying direct current thereto, an induction coil having primary and secondary coils, and means connecting the alternating side of the motor generator with the primary coil, an X-ray tube, and a rectifying switch intermediate said second: arycoil and said X-ray tube, said rectifying switch embracing a rotary switch member driven mechanically by the motor generator, said rectifying switch being constructed to impress the tops only of all the waves of the alternating current upon said X-ray tu e.

8. In an X-ray system,a dynamotor provided with an armaturehaving a separate and complete winding for the direct current side and also for the alternating current,

side, means for supplying direct current thereto, an induction coil having primary and secondary coils, and means connecting the alternating side ofithe motor generator.

with the primary coil, an X-ray tube, and a rectifying switch intermediate said secondary coil and said X-ray tube, said rectifying switch embracing a rotary switch member driven mechanically by the motor generator, said rectifying switch bein conwaves of the alternating current upon said X-ray tube.

9. A rectifying switch comprising two sets of stationary annularly arranged conducting members, each set being located in a plane laterally spaced from the plane of the other set, primary mains each connected with one half of the number of conducting members of one set, secondary mains each connected with one half of the number of conducting members of the other set, each conducting member of one set being located over against an associated conducting arc of the other set,'and the conducting arcs of each set being separated from each other by angles corresponding in number of degrees with 180'electrical degrees, and a rotative switch member carrying diametrically opposite conducting devices extending at an angle to the planes of said stationary conducting devices said rotative switch member being located between the planes of said stationary conducting members and adapted to connect said secondary mains with said primary mains in alternate relation.

10. A- rectifying switch adapted for connecting primary and secondary mains comprising two sets of annularly arranged stationary conducting arcs having arcuate flanges, each set being located in a, plane laterally spaced from the plane of the other set, the arcs of each set being spaced from each other at angles of 90 and each arc of one set being located over'against an as- *sociated arc of the other set, arcuate members electrically connecting the arcs of each set in pairs comprising adjacent, arcs, the electrically connected pairs of the one set each comprising arcs which are opposed to arcs of the other set having no electrical connection, and a rotative switch ,member located between the planes of said sets of conducting arcs and carrying diametrically opposed conducting devices extending at right angles to said switch member and adapted in the rotation thereof to be brought successively into alinement with said opposed conducting arcs, said conducting devices including' plates each having a laterally extending, serrated, arcuate flange adapted to pass in close relation to, but radially without and separated by an air gap from the arcuate flanges .of said con- 1 ducting arcs.

-In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of February A. D. 1911.

SAMUEL T. HUTTON.

Witnesses:

.Gnonen R. WILKINs,

T. H. ALFREns. 

